In a somewhat ironic turn of events, United Airlines is launching its YOLO, Fly SOLO mantra at the same time as couples everywhere turn their attention to romance, red roses and candlelit dinners. Rather than killing that moment, United Airlines said it is helping empower solo travelers ahead of the National Plan a Solo Vacation Day on March 1, 2025. On Wednesday, United Airlines announced it is sharing travel hacks, popular destinations and app features around its ultimate travel mantra: YOLO (You Only Live Once), Fly SOLO. Last year, United recorded its highest-ever numbers for solo travel, and over the last decade, Google searches for "solo travel" have skyrocketed by 223%. The most popular destinations for single travel on United's global network include Brazil, South Korea, China, India and Nigeria. United's app includes features such as wayfinding, agent on demand and seat preference settings designed to help solo fliers feel confident about their travel. Ahead of National Plan a Solo Vacation Day, United Chief Customer Officer David Kinzelman said the airline knows customers want to make memories all over the world, and its goal is to help them do that easily - whether they're traveling with a companion or flying solo. <br/>
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Air Canada forecast 2025 core profit above analysts' estimates on Thursday, as the country's largest carrier bets on steady international travel demand and a rebound in business bookings. The airline expects its 2025 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the range of C$3.4b to C$3.8b, compared with analysts' average estimates of C$3.5b. Air Canada forecast 2025 core profit above analysts' estimates on Thursday, as the country's largest carrier bets on steady international travel demand and a rebound in business bookings. The airline expects its 2025 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the range of C$3.4b to C$3.8b, compared with analysts' average estimates of C$3.5b.<br/>
Alaa Tannous was pleased when the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) ordered Air Canada to pay him $2,079 for delayed luggage, following a flight he and wife, Nancy, took from Toronto to Vancouver in 2022. "I felt it's fair," said Tannous, who had waited more than two years for the CTA's decision. But instead of receiving a payout from Air Canada, the airline served him with court documents this past December — on Christmas Eve. Air Canada is taking Tannous to Federal Court in an attempt to overturn the CTA's decision. The CTA, Canada's transport regulator, isn't named in the court case, so Tannous is on his own. "It was shocking," he said about being served at his Toronto home. "It's disappointing to see the airline, after all the money I spent with them over the years … they're appealing a $2,000 claim." This is the fourth CTA ruling airlines have challenged in court in 2024, and the second one filed by Air Canada. The other case, which is still before the courts, involves passengers Andrew and Anna Dyczkowski in B.C. They were awarded $2,000 for a flight delay, which Air Canada is contesting. "Something is really wrong in the system," Andrew Dyczkowski told CBC News in June 2024. <br/>
All-Boeing operator Copa Airlines anticipates taking 13 737 Max jets this year – two more than it had previously expected – under a revised delivery schedule from the US airframer. The carrier has been advised by Boeing to expect only six 737 Max jets in 2026. The revised figures were disclosed by Copa CE Pedro Heilbron during the company’s 13 February earnings call. Heilbron maintains that Copa is “perfectly fine” with the new delivery schedule, based on the opportunities it sees for new routes and increased frequencies. Notably, Copa holds unfilled orders for four Max 8s and 15 Max 10s – suggesting that Boeing believes it will be delivering some of its yet-to-be certificated Max 10s to customers in the year’s second half. Max 7 and Max 10 certification has been long-delayed as the Federal Aviation Administration has dialled up scrutiny of the programmes following the 2018 and 2019 Max crashes that killed 364 people combined. Last month, Boeing disclosed it is seeking another regulatory exemption from the FAA, this time relating to a stall-management yaw damper system. <br/>
Turkish Airlines is boosting its flights between Sydney and Istanbul, with plans to move to a daily schedule before launching non-stop flights in late 2026. The current timetable sees four flights per week – this will increase to five per week from mid-June, and then six flights each week from the end of October. Then on 12 January 2026, the Sydney-Istanbul (via Kuala Lumpur) flights will become daily. These flights will continue to feature the Star Alliance member’s modern Airbus A350-900, while an extended-range A350-1000 will take on the non-stop flights in late 2026. Direct Melbourne-Istanbul flights are expected to follow in 2027. Those long-legged A350s will be redesigned with the 17-hour marathon in mind, with Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi saying they “will be modified for the Australian routes” to include a substantially larger business class cabin featuring the new private Crystal business class suites.<br/>
Air India’s plans to retrofit its older Boeing 777s with new cabin products has hit a snag after the airline disclosed “production constraints” with its seat suppliers. The cabin upgrades for its older widebodies, which also include 787s, was slated to commence in early 2025. While the first 787 will begin its retrofit in April, Air India states that the 777 retrofit will now commence in early 2026. “In the meantime, Air India is taking the opportunity to refresh as many other elements of the 777 interiors as feasible during 2025, ahead of the full retrofit program,” the Star Alliance operator states. The widebody retrofit programme – first announced in September 2024 – will see new seats and entertainment systems installed on 40 787 and 777s. The first retrofitted 787 will enter service in October this year. Air India will then induct 2-3 787s a month to undergo upgrade works. The delays in cabin upgrades will impact Air India’s operating schedules this year: the airline says it is suspending flights between Mumbai and Melbourne between 30 March and 13 September. The airline will also suspend flights indefinitely between Kochi and London Gatwick as a result of the delays. <br/>
Singapore Airlines is set to further expand its services in the Philippines with the launch of its newest destination in April. “We are serving Manila, Clark, Davao, and Cebu. From April, Singapore Airlines is going to add services to Iloilo, which is going to be our newest destination here in the Philippines,” Liwei Tan, Singapore Airlines general manager for the Philippines, told reporters on Thursday. Singapore Airlines, through its low-cost subsidiary Scoot, will launch direct flights from Iloilo to Singapore four times a week, she said. Tan said the company will consider expanding its services based on market reception to the planned route. “When the market builds up and there’s more opportunity, we definitely want to further grow the services,” she said.<br/>
An Air New Zealand flight bound for Dunedin has had to divert to Wellington Airport this morning, due to an incident involving a disruptive passenger. Flight NZ679 departed Auckland at 9:50am, then circled over Porirua, before landing in Wellington. The A320 aircraft was met on the ground by police. A spokesperson told Stuff officers were notified of the incident at about 11.50am and the person was taken to hospital. Air New Zealand chief operational integrity and safety officer Captain David Morgan said “incidents like this are distressing for our customers, and we have zero tolerance for any disruptive behaviour onboard our aircraft.” The flight has since continued to Dunedin.<br/>